Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1887-10-28

The execution named In the act | have
quoted included no law that had been among
the causes Of dispute between the two parts OF
the Union. The Confederate Constitution re-
stricted the power OF Congress with reference
10 duties on imports. but secession had not
been resorted TO in order 70 relieve the Sc
ccding states from legislation on the subject oil
duties. ,
occurred during the discussion In the conyen-
ton OF south Carolina Of the address proposed
70 he issued 10 the people OF mo slayeholdiny
states. declaring the causes OF the action OF
that state. Mr.. Maxey Gregg afterwards inc
brave General MBxey Gregg, who died nooly
on the field Of Fredericksburg, objected 10 the
form OF an address for that purpose submitted
by Mr.. Memminger because II did not set forth
the causes II the secession Of South Carolina
correctly. He said
"n the declaration not one word Is said
about the tariff, which for 50 many years caused
a contest In this state against the Federal
Government Not one word Is said about the
violations Of the Constitution in expenditures
hot authorized by that instrument. but the
main stress is laid upon an incomparably un-
important point relative 20 fugitive slaves snd
the laws passed by northern states obstructinf
the recovery Cf fugitive slaves
Many Of the acts of the non-slavsholding
States obstructing the recovery OF fugitive
slaves have been passed since 1889. think the
majority 0f them, but ! do not regard II as q
matter Of any importance"
In reply 10 General Gregg Mr.. keitt made
statement which illustrates what | have said
with reference 10 the southern representatives
i'm Congress being responsible for the Federal
laws a. they stood at the time the cotton States
seeded. lie said:
1--WE have instructed the committee 20 draw
up statement Of the reasons which influenced
us in the present case In our withdrawal MY
friend suggests that sufficient notice has not
been paid To the tariff. Your late senators ana
every one of your members Of the House 81
Representatives voted for the present tarlh;
II tho gentleman had been there ne Noulu
also have voted for it,
We are told that this reply Of Mr.. Keitt was
greeted with laughter.
TWO GOVERNMENTS INSTEAD OF ONs.
II thus appears that the general resulto tho
secession movement up 20 and including the
time eXas became member OF the COnfsde-
racy, on the 2d ~ March, 1861, was 10 place the
seeding States under the laws OF the Govern
ment from which they had seeded, the only
change being that those laws were to be al
ministered and executed by Confederate
officers instead ~ Federal officers. hsmost OF
the old officials were continued IN ONCE, some
Of them, tho customs officers for Instance, by
express statute, it required very careful attsn-
tion TO discover In what respect secession ha1
substantially changed the actual legal and pO-
utical condition Of the citizens Of the States
composing tho Montgomery Confederacy.
II gave no new protection 10 slavery, as every
power over that institution denied by the Con-
iederate Constitution 10 the Confederate Gov
ernment had been expressly aOnegated ~ the
legislative, executive, and judicial depart
ments under the Constitution OF the United
states. | think IL will bc apparent that 40 far
a. secession before the Inauguration or hr.
Lincoln was concerned, Us immediate practical
effect was 10 establish two governments IN
stead Of one. 10 execute substantially the same
laws.
The secession Of the cotton States was known,
in the language Of that day, as " secession per
ser and it found small favor In the border
slave States, especially as we shall see In Nlr-
gnia. Conceding that the states had the right
10 seccde. IL was generally regarded as right
which should only be- exercised for grave
cause, and it was not easy for the people Oi
those States to perceive a grave reason for
secession which was followed by a r0-ensctmeni
by the seceders Of the whole body OF the laws
Of the Union from which they hal seeded.
LIE on SECESSION.
II Is Of this secession that General Lee wro'c
from Fort Mason, Texas, on the 23d OF January
1861. lie says:
"The south. in my opinion, has been
aggricyed by the acts Of the North, "a you say
feel the aggression and am willing 10 take
every proper step for redress. u - tho prln y
! Pile / contend for, not individual or priyat
benefit. A. an American citizen. | take grol
pride in my country, her prosperity and he
| h slitutions, aud would defend any state If he
rights were invaded. But eau anticipate n'
( greater calamity for the country than disco
| mtion of the nion. IL would be an accumula
| ton Of all the evils We complain OF
| and | am willing 10 sacrifice eVerythinl
| hut honor for It's preservation.
| hope, therefore, that all constitutions
| means Will be exhausted before thore is a r.
! SORT 10 force. Ncesst0h q nOfhihg OW rerOlu
| fiop. The trainers Of our Constitution neve
| exhausted so much labor, wisdom, aud for0ear
| ance I'm its formation, and surrounded 10 Wit
so many guards and securities, II It were IN
| tended To be broken by every member OF IN
| Confederacy dt WtU. II Is intended for per
petual union. 60 expressed in the preamble
| and for the establishment OF government uo
| a c0mpacO which can only bee dissolved by rev
! oluuon. or by the consent Of all the people !
| convention assembled. IL - IDLE 10 "a.
| Of secession. Anarchy would have been esta'
! Ushed, and not a government, by Washington
Hamilton, Madison, and al the other pttrio,
of the Revolution. Still an Union that can Onl
be maintained by swords aud bayOnets, and l
which stlife and civil war are 10 take tho plac
II brotherly love and kindness, has no charm
for me. / shall mourn for my country and &
tho welfare and progress Of mankind. II u
Union Is dissolved and the Government di
! rupted shall return % my native state an
share the miseries Of my people, ana. saYs I
| defence, will draw nv sword no more"
/ This letter was wriiten with reference 70 IN
/ secession of some Of the cotton states on o.
! count Il the election Of Mr.. Lincoln. aud II %
| tresses the views of tho great majority OF Ia
| people Of Virginia az that time On that su
| iecf-Siews which were cOncurred IN by lars
| majuritics In ali the border slave states. an.
! as We shall see, by large miu0tities IN th
! cotton states themselves. The opini)
| EXPRESSED in the letter, that sece.sio
| should only he TesOrted 10 IA rev,
! Iuuouary measure, after every pacin
| and constitutional means Of composing o.
| difficulties that beset the country lad been "a
hausted. and the feeling OF attachment 70 IL
| Union itself n preferable 90 auy other gOyerl
! ment that could be established. provided n.
| Government Of the Union itself should b
| placed upon the foundation Of justice an
| equity, expressed the almost unanimous sent
| ment Of the people OF the border slave stat
and Of a very large minority Of those Of "a
cotton States
POPULAR OPPOSITION TO sECEssloS.
The ptople Of the cotton States were far fror
| being agreed as 20 tho wisdom and expcdienc
| Of secession under the circumstances ] hav
| mentioned. as / shall now show. The ord
| nances Of secession adopted by the convention
| Of the cotton States We're not, as n general rul'
| submitted 10 the people for ratification. but v
| are not without the means Of estimating u
extent Of the popular opposition.
HOW THE ORDINANCE WAS ADOPTED.
IN South Carolina tie ordinance was aiopte
| unanimously by tho convention, and Will
! there is nothing 10 indicate that Il met wiu
| serious opposition among the people, 10 wa
| not submitted 10 them, but took effect by IA
! action II the convention alone.
IN Georgia strong minority opposed IN
| measure to the last, and test resolution, dt
| clnriug il to be the right and duty OF GeOrgi
| 10 secede, = ssed tie convention on the lst
| Of January, 1851, by q vote Of only 80 10 lR
| and after the adoption Of this resolution IN
| ordinance u secession was opposed the nez
| day by 80 members against 2Js voting ia fave
| OF IL.
| In Alabama the ordinance was adopted b
| The convention on the I'm Of January by vOt
| u 81 20 80
In Florida tho ordinance was adopted on N
i0th Of January, ls6l, by vote OF o. % 2, bu
was not submitted 20 the people.
In Mississippi the ordinance was adopted o
the 9TH Of January, 1861, by vote OF 81 % /.
and was not submitted 10 the people.
In Louisigna the ordinance was adopted !
convention on the 25th Of Janury, 1851, by
vote Of ll3 % Il, the convention refusing
submit 10 10 the people by a vote Of "a % 45.
In Texas tho ordinance was approved by
| vote OF the people. the Governor OF the stat
standing stOutly Ia opposition The populr
vote stood 3i.79t for and ii.2J5 against sec0'
sion. The whole vote cast In the presidents
election In November, 1850, by the people {
Texas was u, $50, being nearly 1900 more tha
the vote on the ordinance OF secession. II
1900 votes Withheld from the OrdinaRc
added 10 the 1925 cast against IL indicate th
strength Of the popular opposition 10 seces.i0
IN that state. II the vote Of Texas be anythin
ike a fair test Of popular opinion In the Stat
In which the people did not vote on the ord
nance / think am warraDIed In saying that
large minority Of the people OF the cOtto
states were not in favor Of secession In u
early stages Of that movement
such was the state Of affairs when the Mon
gomery Confederacy was formed. lt effecte
no Immediate material change In the sOcii
and political condition Of the people. q lar.
minority Of whom we're opposed TO the msi
sures which had led 20 the establishment OF n
Government In the convention OF South Car
lira. at least there was some DOUBT and son
debate, as have shown, about the causes
| tl.a rfr.s